FLUID MECHANICS LAB VIVA QUESTIONS AND ANSWER

XANELY DSOUZA

BY:

4NM14ME213

1) What is surging and choking in centrifugal compressor?

surge is the operating point, where Maximum head and minimum flow capacity is
reached.

Compressor operates, somewhere between Surge point and Stonewall Point also known as
Choking Point.

Surging is the complete breakdown of steady flow in the

compressor which occurs at low flow rate

Surging takes place when compressor is operated off the design point and it
affects the whole machine and this is aerodynamically and mechanically
undesirable
It results in high temperature, high vibration and leads to flow reversal

Choking is the condition which occurs in the compressor in which it

operates at very high mass flow rate and flow through the compressor cant
be further increased as mach number at some part of the compressor reach
to unity i.e. to sonic velocity and the flow is said to be choked.

2)

In compressor maximum volume flow rate is limited by cross-section at the inlet

WHAT IS STALLING ?
Surging and Stalling both lead to unstable flow in
compressors.

A compressor stall is a local disruption of the airflow in a gas turbine or turbocharger

compressor. It is related to compressor surge which is a complete disruption of the
flow through the compressor.

Rotating stall is a local disruption of airflow within the compressor which continues to provide
compressed air but with reduced effectiveness

3)

WHAT IS SURGE TANK ?

Surge tank is a small storage tank or reservoir required in the hydro power plants for
regulating the water flow during load reduction and sudden increase in the load on
the hydro generator (water flow transients in penstock) and thus reducing the pressure on the
penstock. This is the advantage of surge tank.

4)

What is water hammer?

Water hammer (or, more generally, fluid hammer) is a pressure surge or

wave caused when a fluid (usually a liquid but sometimes also a gas) in
motion is forced to stop or change direction suddenly (momentum change).

A water hammer commonly occurs when a valve closes suddenly at an end

of a pipeline system, and a pressure wave propagates in the pipe. It is also
called hydraulic shock
5) What is air compressor?

Air compressor is a mechanical device it used for compressing the air This device
used in various applications like vehicle, train, and aero plains For controlling
over motion
(breaks) it is also used for rotating drills. This has a many applications in
mechanical.
a)

Scroll type compressor.

b)

Piston type compressor.

c)

Centrifugal type compressor

6) What is the difference between Fan, Blower and Compressor?

Fan:- Pressure ratio up to 1.1

Blower:- Pressure ratio from 1.1 to 2.5
Compressor:- Pressure ratio above 2.5
7) What is air pump?

Compressor used for creating vacuum are called as air pump

8) What do you mean about free air delivery (FAD)?

It represents the rate of volume of surrounding air which is sucked by the

compressor and delivered at discharge pressure.
9) What is pump? State various types of pump.

Pump is defined as a devices which transfer the input mechanical energy of a

motor or of an engine into pressure energy or kinetic energy or both of a fluid.
There are mainly two basic types of pump :1 Positive displacement types:
a.

Reciprocating pump

b.

Rotary pump

2 Rotodynamic types a Centrifugal pump

b Turbinje pump
c Axila flow pump
d Jet pump
10) Give the application of pump

1 supply water for agricultural and irrigation purpose 2 petroleum installation of

pump oil
3 Hydraulic control system
4 Transfer of row materials
5 Fire fighting

11) Define :- Impeller, Casing. Strainer, Foot valve

12) Impeller:- Impeller is a wheel or rotor having a series of backward curved

vanes or blades. The impeller is mounted on the shaft which is usually

coupled to a motor. Casing:- Casing perform two function Firstly, it guide the
water from entry to exit of the impeller, and secondly the casing is so
designed that it help in partly converting the kinetic energy of liquid into
pressure energy.

13) Strainer:- The function of strainer is to prevents the entry of any debris into

the pump. Foot valve:- Foot valve is non returns valve it allow the flow of
water only in upward direction.

14) Classify the pump based on casing.

1 Volute Pump or Constant velocity pump

2 Vertex pump or Variable velocity volute pump 3 Diffuser or Turbine pump
15) What do you mean about of priming?

The operation of filling the casing, impeller, and suction pipe and the portion of
delivery pump up to delivery valve is called priming.

16) PELTON

TURBINE

INTRODUCTION: The Pelton wheel turbine is a tangential flow impulse turbine. The water strikes
the bucket along the tangent of the runner. The energy available at the turbine is only kinetic
energy. This turbine is used for high head and is named after the American engineer Lester Pelton.

WORKING OF PELTON TURBINE

The amount of water striking the vanes (buckets) of the runner is controlled by providing a spear
(flow regulating arrangement) in the nozzle.
Then the efficient nozzle that converts the hydraulic energy into a high speed jet. The turbine rotor
is called runner.
The impact jet of water is striking on the runner and runner revolves at constant with the help of
governing mechanism.
The runner shaft is connected with the generator; thus the electricity is produce with the help of
generator.
EFFICIENCIES OF PELTON TURBINE
Mechanical efficiencies: It is ratio of the shaft power to the water power.
Hydraulic efficiencies: It is ratio of the power developed at the turbine runner to the power
supplied by the water jet at entrance to the turbine.
Volumetric efficiencies: It is ratio of the theoretical to the actual discharge.
Overall efficiencies: It is ratio of the shaft power to the water power.

17) 1. Differentiate between Absolute and gauge pressures.

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

1.

Differentiate between Absolute and gauge pressures.

absolute pressure - The actual pressure at a given position is called the absolute
pressure, and it is measured relative to absolute vacuum (i.e., absolute zero
pressure).
gage pressure - Gage pressure is the pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure.
In other words, how much above or below is the pressure with respect to the
atmospheric pressure.
vacuum pressure - Pressures below atmospheric pressure are called vacuum
pressures and are measured by vacuum gages that indicate the difference between
the atmospheric pressure and the absolute pressure.
atmospheric pressure - The atmospheric pressure is the pressure that an area
experiences due to the force exerted by the atmosphere.
Equations
Pgage = Pabs Patm gage pressure
Pvac = Patm Pabs vacuum pressure
Pabs = Patm + Pgage absolute pressure

2.

Mention two pressure measuring instruments.

3.

What is the difference weight density and mass density?

4.

What is the difference between dynamic and kinematic viscosity?

5.

Differentiate between specific weight and specific volume.

6.

Define relative density.

7.

What is vacuum pressure?

8.

What is absolute zero pressure?

9.

Write down the value of atmospheric pressure head in terms of water and Hg.

10.

Differentiate between laminar and turbulent flow.

11.

How will you classify the flow as laminar and turbulent?

12.

Mention few discharge measuring devices

13.

Draw the venturimeter and mention the parts.

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

14.

Why the divergent cone is longer than convergent cone in venturimeter?

Because it reduces the backward motion of flow. It is not related to length. It is related with the
angle. Angle of Diverging portion is less compare to angle of Converging portion.
15.

Compare the merits and demerits of venturimeter with orifice meter.

16.

Why Cd value is high in venturimeter than orifice meter?

17.

What is orifice plate?

18.

What do you mean by vena contracta?

Vena contracta is the point in a fluid stream where the diameter of the stream is the least, and
fluid velocity is at its maximum, such as in the case of a stream issuing out of a nozzle, (orifice)
19.

Define coefficient of discharge.

In a nozzle or other constriction, the discharge coefficient (also known as coefficient of

discharge) is the ratio of the actual discharge to the theoretical discharg

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

20.

Write down Darcy -weisback's equation.

21.

What is the difference between friction factor and coefficient of friction?

The simple mathematical relation is friction factor = (4 times coefficient of friction).

22.

What do you mean by major energy loss?

23.

List down the type of minor energy losses.

24.

Define turbine

25.

What are the classifications of turbine

26.

Define impulse turbine

a turbine in which the rotor is driven by fluid jets impinging directly against the blades
27.

Define reaction turbine.

a turbine with rotating blades curved and arranged so as to develop torque from gradual
decrease of steam pressure from inlet to exhaust
28.

Differentiate between impulse and reaction turbine.

1. In impulse turbine only kinetic energy is used to rotate the

turbine.
1. In reaction turbine both kinetic and pressure energy is used
to rotate the turbine.

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

2. In this turbine water flow through the nozzle and strike the
blades of turbine.
2. In this turbine water is guided by the guide blades to flow
over the turbine.
3. All pressure energy of water converted into kinetic energy
before striking the vanes.
3. In reaction turbine, there is no change in pressure energy of
water before striking.
4. The pressure of the water remains unchanged and is equal
to atmospheric pressure during process.
4. The pressure of water is reducing after passing through
vanes.
5. Water may admitted over a part of circumference or over
the whole circumference of the wheel of turbine.

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

5. Water may admitted over a part of circumference or over
the whole circumference of the wheel of turbine.
6. In impulse turbine casing has no hydraulic function to
perform because the jet is at atmospheric pressure. This
casing serves only to prevent splashing of water.
6. Casing is absolutely necessary because the pressure at inlet
of the turbine is much higher than the pressure at outlet. It is
sealed from atmospheric pressure.
7. This turbine is most suitable for large head and lower flow
rate. Pelton wheel is the example of this turbine.
7. This turbine is best suited for higher flow rate and lower
head situation.
29.

What is the function of draft tube?

Draft tube: The draft tube is a conduit which connects the runner exit to the tail race where the
water is being finally discharged from the turbine. The primary function of the draft tube is to
reduce the velocity of the discharged water to minimize the loss of kinetic energy at the outlet.
30.

Define specific speed of turbine.

31.

What are the main parameters in designing a Pelton wheel turbine?

32.

What is breaking jet in Pelton wheel turbine?

33.

What is the function of casing in Pelton turbine

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

34.

Draw a simple sketch of Pelton wheel bucket.

35.

What is the function of surge tank fixed to penstock in Pelton turbine?

1. It reduces the amplitude of pressure fluctuations by reflecting the incoming pressure
waves
2. It improves the regulation characteristic of a hydraulic turbine.

36.

How the inlet discharge is controlled in Pelton turbine?

37.

What is water hammer?

Water hammer is a pressure surge or wave caused when a fluid (usually a liquid but sometimes
also a gas) in motion is forced to stop or change direction suddenly (momentum change).

38.

What do you mean by head race?

39.

What do you mean by tail race?

a race for conveying water away from a point of industrial application (as a waterwheel or
turbine) after use
40.

What is the difference between propeller and Kaplan turbine?

The Kaplan is of the propeller type, similar to an airplane propeller. The difference
between the Propeller and Kaplan turbines is that the Propeller turbine has fixed runner
blades while the Kaplan turbine has adjustable runner blades. It is a pure axial
flow turbine uses basic aerofoil theory.
41.

Mention the parts of Kaplan turbine.

42.

Differentiate between inward and outward flow reaction turbine.

43.

What is the difference between Francis turbine and Modern Francis turbine?

44.

What is mixed flow reaction turbine? Give an example.

45.

Why draft tube is not required in impulse turbine?

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

The function of a draft tube is to decrease the pressure at the outlet of a reaction turbine.
Pelton wheels are impulse turbines so they utilise only kinetic energy to turn. So there is no
requirement for a draft tube which is a requirement for reaction turbines where both kinetic
and pressure energy is utilised like a Francis and kaplan turbines.
46.

How turbines are classified based on head. Give example.

47.

How turbines are classified based on flow. Give example

48.

How turbines are classified based on working principle. Give example.

49.

What does velocity triangle indicates?

In turbomachinery, a velocity triangle or a velocity diagram is a triangle representing the

various components of velocities of the working fluid in a turbomachine. Velocity
triangles may be drawn for both the inlet and outlet sections of any turbomachine
50.

Draw the velocity triangle for radial flow reaction turbine.

51.

Draw the velocity triangle for tangential flow turbine.

52.

Mention the type of characteristic curves for turbines.

53.

How performance characteristic curves are drawn for turbine.

54.

Mention the types of efficiencies calculated for turbine.

55.

Define pump.

56.

How pumps are classified?

57.

Differentiate pump and turbine.

58.

Define Rotodynamic pump.

59.

Define Positive displacement pump.

60.

Differentiate between Rotodynamic and positive displacement pump.

61.

Define cavitation in pump.

simply defined, cavitation is the formation of bubbles or cavities in liquid, developed in areas of
relatively low pressure around an impeller. The imploding or collapsing of these bubbles trigger
intense shockwaves inside the pump, causing significant damage to the impeller and/or
the pump housing
62.

What is the need for priming in pump?

Priming is the process in which the impeller of a centrifugal pump will get fully sub merged in
liquid without any air trap inside. This is especially required when there is a first start up.But it is
advisable to start the pump only after primping.

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

63.

Give examples for Rotodynamic pump

64.

Give examples for Positive displacement pump.

65.

Mention the parts of centrifugal pump.

66.

Mention the type of casing used in centrifugal pump.

67.

Why the foot valve is fitted with strainer?

68.

Why the foot valve is a non return type valve?

Foot valves work by ensuring that the water in a well pump only flows in one direction. Foot
valves are a type of check valve, but they differ in that the flow area is larger in size than the
rest of the pipe. This limits the amount of head loss in the pumping system
69.

Differentiate between volute casing and vortex casing.

70.

What is the function of volute casing?

The volute of a centrifugal pump is the casing that receives the fluid being pumped by the
impeller, slowing down the fluid's rate of flow. A volute is a curved funnel that increases in area
as it approaches the discharge port.
71.

What is the function of guide vanes?

72.

Why the vanes are curved radially backward?

73.

What is the function of impeller?

An impeller is a rotating component of a centrifugal pump, usually made of iron, steel, bronze,
brass, aluminium or plastic, which transfers energy from the motor that drives the pump to the
fluid being pumped by accelerating the fluid outwards from the center of rotation.
74.

Mention the difference b/w propeller and impellar?

Propellers and impellers both provide thrust, but do it in different ways. A propelleris a fan
which propels a fluid by pushing against it: it converts rotational motion into linear motion.
An impeller is a rotor that produces a sucking force, and is part of a pump.
75.

Define specific speed of pump.

76.

Mention the type of characteristic curves for pump

77.

How performance characteristic curves are drawn for pump.

78.

Mention the parts of reciprocating pump.

79.

What is the function of air vessel?

Role of Air vessels in reciprocating pump

1. Uniform velocity during suction and discharge

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

2. Reduces head loss
3. Act as a reservoir of the fluid
it acts as a reservoir that allow continuous flow

80.

What is slip of reciprocating pump?

Slip is defined as the difference between theoretical discharge and actual

discharge. If actual discharge is greater than theoretical discharge negative value is found this
negative value is called negative slip.

81.

What is negative slip?

82.

What is the condition for occurrence of negative slip?

83.

What does indicator diagram indicates?

A pressure volume diagram (or PV diagram, or volume-pressure loop) is used to describe

corresponding changes in volume and pressure in a system. ... PV diagrams, originally
called indicator diagrams, were developed in the 18th century as tools for understanding the
efficiency of steam engines.

84.

What is the difference between actual and ideal indicator diagram?

85.

Briefly explain Gear pump.

86.

Differentiate between internal gear pump and external gear pump.

87.

Briefly explain vane pump.

88.

What is rotary pump?

89.

Draw the velocity triangle for centrifugal pump.

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

90.

Draw the indicator diagram for reciprocating pump.

91.

What is the amount of work saved by air vessel?

92.

Mention the merits and demerits of centrifugal pump.

Advantages of centrifugal pump

o

o
o

As there is no drive seal so there is no

leakage in pump
It can pump hazardous liquids
There are very less frictional losses

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

o
o
o

There in almost no noise

Pump has almost have 100 efficiency
Centrifugal pump have minimum wear
with respect to others
There is a gap between pump
chamber and motor, so there is no
heat transfer between them
Because of the gap between pump
chamber and motor, water cannot
enter into motor
Centrifugal pump use magnetic
coupling which breakup on high load
eliminating the risk of damaging the
motor

Disadvantages of centrifugal pump

o

Because of the magnetic resistance

there is some energy losses
Unexpected heavy load may cause
the coupling to slip
ferrous particles in liquid are
problematic when you are using
magnetic drive. This is because

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

particle collect at impeller and cause

the stoppage of pump after some time
93.

Mention the merits and demerits of reciprocating pump.

Advantages of reciprocating pump

o
o
o
o
o

High efficiency
No priming needed
Can deliver water at high pressure
Can work in wide pressure range
Continuous rate of discharge

Disadvantages of reciprocating pump

o
o
o
o
o
o
o

More parts mean high initial cost

High maintenance cost
No uniform torque
Low discharging capacity
Pulsating flow
Difficult to pump viscous fluid
High wear in parts

94.

What is separation in reciprocating pump?

95.

How separation occurs in reciprocating pump?

If the pressure in the cylinder is below the vapour pressure ,

dissolved gasses will be liberated from the liquid and cavitations will
takes place . The continuous flow of liquid will not exit which means
separation of liquid takes place. The pressure at which separation

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab Viva Question

takes place is called separation pressure and head corresponding to
the separation pressure is called separation pressure head.

96.

Differentiate single acting and double acting reciprocating pump.

In single acting pump, there is one suction valve and

one delivery valve. On the backward stroke of the piston,
the suction valve opens and water enters into the cylinder
space. On the forward stroke, the suction valve closes and
delivery valve opens, the water is forced through the delivery
pipe.
In the double acting pump, there are two suction valves
and two delivery vales one in the front and one in the rear.
When the piston moves backward, the suction valve in the
front opens and delivery valve in the rear opens and water
is forced through it. When the piston moves forward, the
suction valve in the rear opens and delivery valve in the
front opens and water is forced through it.